All You Need to Know About Dermatillomania

Dermatillomania is a compulsive, often detrimental habit that is characterized by the repeated urge to pick at one’s own skin — often to the extent of tissue damage and scarring. In terms of prevalence, an estimated 1.4 to 5.4 percent of the general population is afflicted with this condition, with women accounting for the majority (at 86 percent). While the onset of dermatillomania varies, the condition typically peaks in adolescents between the ages of 11-13 years old.

Learn more about this condition in the following infographic from SkinPick.

3 Comments

A lot of people, myself included, suffer from Dermatillomania on the legs. I have heard of a lot of people also having it on their feet. Really, anywhere our hands can reach people can develop this disorder.

I believe this is also incorrect in saying it’s a form of self-injury. Although the result is damage to the skin, the intent is not to cause injury to oneself- it’s oftentimes part of a compulsive need to “fix” a real or perceived imperfection.

It is now in the DSM-5 under the name “Excoriation Disorder” instead of its former name (which most of us still refer to), Dermatillomania.

Jocy on January 24, 2014 at 2:57 am

I agree with the above commenter (Angela). I have it on my feet. I don’t understand why the diagram does not label any part of the body that the hands can reach.

I also believe saying it is a form of self-injury is incorrect. Maybe it is in some cases, but that is definitely not always the motivation. Often there is no motivation and it is simply an impulse. I think this infographic is mostly good, but far too generalised in some ways. Thankyou for making it though.

Like Angela said, it can occur anywhere. I get mine mostly on my hands (including cuticles) and sometimes arms. And imo it shouldn’t be considered a form of self harm. One can scratch themselves as a form of self harm but that is different to Dermatillomania

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